Pastor Tony Merida got it right today. This young man of God, in the second year of his first pastorate, is so solid in his presentation, so sound in his theology, and so right in his connection with the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Kenner, it’s pure joy to hear him. His message on the resurrection of Jesus was precisely what I needed to hear after burying a good friend and a dear brother this week. I pray that I shall live boldly and never fear death, which if the Gospels are to be believed, is a conquered enemy.

Tony’s sense of humor is so refreshing. Referring to the John 20 scene where Peter and John rush to the tomb to find it empty and the Lord’s grave clothes flat and the head towel folded neatly by itself, Tony called that two miracles. “The Lord was risen and a single man folded his clothes.”

Early this morning after spending time in the Word and then on the floor with my exercises, I walked on the Mississippi River levee, caught a quick shower, then rushed to LaFreniere Park for the 7 am Easter Sunrise Service conducted by the Lutheran church. The people were all leaving. “I thought it started at seven,” I said to two ladies decked out in bright Easter colors. “Six-fifteen,” one said. “The one in the cemetery starts at seven.” It would be half over by the time I got there. As I drove away, they called out a bright, “Happy Easter.”

This Monday night at 8 pm Central, the debate of the candidates for New Orleans mayor goes national. Chris Mathews and MSNBC will broadcast this show, and it should be worth watching. Sunday’s Times-Picayune says some of the candidates are through playing nice and have started making accusations. Ron Forman accuses Mitch Landrieu of never meeting a tax he didn’t like when he was in the state legislature. Landrieu fires back that Forman sure did like to receive the money from those taxes at the various Audubon enterprises he oversaw. Peggy Wilson is predicting that she, the official Republican nominee, will meet Mayor Nagin in the runoff. The newspaper has endorsed Forman but finds a lot it likes in Rob Couhig, Virginia Boulet, and Rev. Tom Watson.

Sewell Cadillac, the prestigious downtown dealership, lost a lot of great automobiles to the Katrina thing when as many as 90 police officers helped themselves to vehicles for transportation in and out of the city. Attorney General Charles Foti is investigating and it’s still to be seen what recommendations he will make. In the meantime, Sewell has decided to capitalize on the event. Billboards going up around town announce: “New Orleans’ Finest Drive Sewell.” Police Chief Warren Riley smiles about it and says, “It’s good advertising, a stroke of genius, really. A good-humored joke. It was smart of them to use us to their own benefit.”

The paper says the Mississippi folks are up in arms over State Farm, which is being accused of burning engineering reports which they commissioned but which do not tally with the assessments they put on losses to homes and businesses.

David Crosby, about to celebrate his tenth anniversary at New Orleans’ First Baptist Church, announces that the plans for Baptist Crossroads are on schedule. Working with volunteers from all over the country and with Habitat for Humanity, the BC project has bought up 40 vacant lots in the Ninth Ward where new homes will be built this summer. At this moment, the foundations for 28 of the houses are being prepared.

David says, “All the money ($3 million) is raised.” Plans call for 250 to 300 volunteers working each day over a ten week period this summer, June 5 through August 17. At this point, only two or three weeks do not have the required number of volunteers committed. Very impressive, if you ask me.

David says what they are needing for these 40 new homes is experienced tradespeople, which means workers with experience in wiring homes, installing plumbing, heating and air conditioning, sheetrock, etc. They prefer volunteers, but will welcome reliable subcontractors for reasonable pay.

They’re also looking for construction supervisors, people with experience in building houses to oversee the work of the volunteers on two to four homes. These are paying positions. The salaries are negotiable, David says, but typically around $25 to $30,000 annually.

Dr. Crosby invites those interested to contact him at 504 237 8481. His e-mail address is david@firstbaptistneworleans.com.

I began this short treatise by bragging on one of our newest pastors, Tony Merida, and I end it with appreciation for David Crosby, a veteran minister of the Gospel and one of the finest men I know. He is a man of vision and enthusiasm, who never fails to inspire me by his words. David says, “We know God is watching over us. We see His hand every day. And we know that we are the special objects of His grace and love.”